WORLD WAR II AND INDEPENDENCE

The capitulation of France in June 1940 brought Vichyappointed
General Henri Dentz as high commissioner and a new cabinet headed by
Khalid al Azm, a wealthy landlord from an old Damascus family who was to
play a leading role in Syrian politics 22 years later. Despite continued
German military successes elsewhere, British and Free French forces
supported by troops of the Transjordan Arab Legion defeated the Vichy
forces in both Syria and Lebanon. Control then passed to Free French
authorities.

The entry of Allied troops brought a promise from the Free French
leader, General Charles de Gaulle, of eventual independence, although de
Gaulle declared that so far as he was concerned, the mandate would
remain in existence until a new French government legally brought it to
an end. When Syrians elected a new parliament in 1943 with the National
Bloc in control, the parliament elected Quwatly as president of Syria.

During 1944 the Syrian government took over the functions of 14
administrative departments which had been under direct French control
since 1920. These included those dealing with customs, social affairs,
excise taxes, control of concessionary companies, and supervision of
tribes. France retained control of social, cultural, and educational
services as well as the Troupes Speciales du Levant (Levantine Special
Forces), which were used for security purposes. Despite French
opposition, the Soviet Union in July and the United States in September
1944 granted Syria and Lebanon unconditional recognition as sovereign
states; British recognition followed a year later. These Allied nations
pressured France to evacuate Syria.

The new Syrian government demanded either the immediate and
unconditional transfer of the Troupes Speciales de Levant to Syrian
control or their disbandment, and threatened to form a national army
unless such action was taken. But France made withdrawal of the troops
dependent on Syria's signature of a treaty assigning France a privileged
position in the country.

In January 1945, the Syrian government announced the formation of a
national army and in February declared war on the Axis powers. In March
the nation became a charter member of the United Nations (UN), an
indication of its sovereign status, and, in April, affirmed its
allegiance to the idea of Arab unity by signing the pact of the League
of Arab States (Arab League).

The way in which the French left Syria, however, increased the
already bitter feelings the Syrians had toward France. France was
adamant in its demand that its cultural, economic, and strategic
interests be protected by treaty before agreeing to withdraw the Troupes
Speciales du Levant. In May 1945, demonstrations occurred in Damascus
and Aleppo and, for the third time in 20 years, the French bombed and
machine-gunned the ancient capital. Serious fighting broke out in Homs
and Hamah as well. Only after Britain's Prime Minister Winston Churchill
threatened to send troops to Damascus did General de Gaulle order a
cease-fire. A UN resolution in February 1946 called on France to
evacuate. The French acceded and, by April 15, 1946, all French troops
were off Syrian soil. On April 17 Syria celebrated Evacuation Day; the
date is a national holiday.